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Doomsday Brethren #2
Seduce Me in Shadow
When a villainous wizard escapes from exile, the devastatingly sexy Doomsday Brethren must defend all magickind in the spellbinding second book in bestselling author Shayla Black's seductive new paranormal series.
Ex-marine Caden MacTavish has shunned his magical heritage all his life, but he will do anything to heal his desperately ill brother, a Doomsday Brethren warrior in mourning for his missing mate. Posing as a photographer, Caden must convince firecracker tabloid reporter Sydney Blair to reveal the source of her recent exposé on a supernatural power clash. Unfortunately, keeping his hands off the sizzling redhead proves as hard as getting them onto the potent and mystical Doomsday Diary he discovers at her bedside. A bloody rebellion led by an evil, power-hungry wizard is imminent. If Sydney divulges the book's existence, she will jeopardize magickind's most deeply guarded secrets and become the ruthless wizard's number one target. Caden has never trusted magic's cruel and dangerous powers, but he will protect Sydney with his life and magic even if it means risking his heart.
400 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 23, 2009
58 people are currently reading
2,072 people want to read
About the author
Shayla Black
171books9,929followersShayla Black is theNew York TimesandUSA Todaybestselling author of more than 100 contemporary, erotic, paranormal, and historical romances. Her books have sold millions of copies and been published in a dozen languages.
As an only child, Shayla occupied herself by daydreaming, much to the chagrin of her teachers. In college, she found her love for reading and started pursuing a publishing career. Though she graduated with a degree in Marketing/Advertising and embarked on a stint in corporate America, her heart was with her stories and characters, so she left her pantyhose and power suits behind.
Shayla currently lives in North Texas with her wonderfully supportive husband, her daughter, and two spoiled tabbies. Inher “free� time, she enjoys reality TV, gaming, and listening to aneclectic blend of music.
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As an only child, Shayla occupied herself by daydreaming, much to the chagrin of her teachers. In college, she found her love for reading and started pursuing a publishing career. Though she graduated with a degree in Marketing/Advertising and embarked on a stint in corporate America, her heart was with her stories and characters, so she left her pantyhose and power suits behind.
Shayla currently lives in North Texas with her wonderfully supportive husband, her daughter, and two spoiled tabbies. Inher “free� time, she enjoys reality TV, gaming, and listening to aneclectic blend of music.
Follow me on Facebook:
Join me in my Book Beauties group for weekly LIVE chats:
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 168 reviews
December 24, 2010
What is it with the macho, ripped, stubborn wizards? Well, except for the fact that they’re� er, gorgeous, smart, and ripped. Oh, and did I mention wizards? So, on the one hand, Caden can try to deny his magic and live without his mate. Really, Caden? Common! Get your act together.
Does he figure it all out and live happily-ever-after with Sydney, his destined mate? What about Shock? Whose side is he on, anyway? Is he goodly evil or evilly good? (I can hardly wait for Shock's story) Then there is Ice and Sabelle who have it bad for each other. Will they ever� oh, wait. Ice and Sabelle are featured in the next book. I so gotta know what happens next.
Did I skim? No
Will I re-read? Yep. This is a great series, worth getting hooked on.
Did I enjoy the supporting characters? Yes
October 13, 2009
This was a great paranormal. I wonder how the authors come up with all the imagination it takes to write a story like this. Shayla DID bring the heat in this one and I am so looking forwards to the next book in this series that comes out at the end of this month, not to mention the others that she will write in the future.
March 7, 2011
Caden MacTavish left magic behind when he left his native home of England for the States 12 years ago. He wants nothing to do with magic and the troubles it brings but he is called home after his brother's mate is kidnapped ends their bond and sends him spiraling towards his death. He will do everything to find his brother's missing mate. He is sent undercover to find out who the source is for the fiery reporter Sydney Blair's recent articles on the brewing war taking place in the magic world. While attempting to seduce Sydney for her information he finds that she is in possession of the Doomsday Diary. The battle against the evil wizard Mathias gets bloodier each day and if Caden doesn't stop Sydney from telling the world about the Diary, it will put the lives of all magickind in jeopardy and make her capture Mathias' number one priority. The only way to save his fated mate and his fellow Brethren is to embrace and use the very magic he has spent so many years running from.
Caden witnessed a tragic event when he was younger that made him shun his magical heritage. He sees no use for it and refuses to embrace his transformation into becoming a wizard. He only returns to England because his brother Lucan has fallen gravely ill after a forceful mate bond brake. Caden has no intention or desire for joining the Doomsday Brethren that fights the evil wizard Mathias. Bram is the leader of the Brethren and Lucan's best friend. He has been taking care of his sick friend and Caden has agreed to help Bram quiet reporter Sydney Blair and her stories of the fighting as a way to repay Bram for helping to take care of his brother. He takes a job as a photographer to work with Sydney to learn the source of her stories and to get her to stop writing her articles. As soon as he learns that Sydney is also in possession of the Doomsday Diary, a diary that grants the wishes of those who write in it, he is also tasked with relieving her of it. Things get complicated when Caden feels that Sydney is his destined mate.
Caden really does not like magic. He wants to hurry and find his brother's mate so she can heal his brother and then leave as soon as it's all done. He is a man of honor so he helps out Bram because of all he has done for his brother. He thinks that Sydney's source is his brother's mate and sets out to find out who exactly is supplying her with all the details. It isn't long after he starts to work with Sydney that he becomes attracted to her and is not happy to realize that she is suppose to be his mate. He doesn't like the magic world and does not want to drag Sydney into it but it becomes more and more difficult not to make her his.
Sydney is an intelligent strong headed woman who wants to bed Caden but is weary about his intentions with her story. He is constantly asking her about her source and she won't budge on giving him any information. When she finds out the truth she actually takes to the knowledge of magic better than Caden. She wants to do all she can to stop Mathias while Caden can't get out of England fast enough. Their biggest obstacle in being together is Caden and him being afraid of what magic and a mate bond could do to him or Sydney. He is a strong, handsome, caring male with good values but all his reasons for not wanting magic or to mate with Sydney were just excuses and I started to tire of them. Sydney was a good fit for him because she was caring to his situation but at the same time she wasn't going to baby him and let him just bury his head in the sand.
The story from Tempt Me With Darkness continues in Seduce Me In Shadow. Mathias has risen from the dead and is creating an army of undead soldiers to fight. He is going after the Privileged (Magickind is segregated into the rich Privileged and the oppressed Deprived) and the Doomsday Brethren is all that stands in between him and mass murder. The Brethren's numbers are very small and with Lucan down, it is even more difficult. Lucan's story is very sad. I've learned his book won't be out until February 2012 and I know it is going to be an emotional one. The second installment in the Doomsday Brethren series is even darker and more addicting than the first. Shayla Black's characters have a way of getting under your skin and make you want to know more.
~Stephanie G
Caden MacTavish has ran from his magical heritage his whole life but when his brother becomes ill from a mate mourning he rushes home. Caden vows he will do anything and everything to help his brother Lucan over come this. When he is assigned to check out a reporter for the local tabloid who knows an awful lot about their magical world and war, it may prove to be more difficult than tracking his brothers mate.
Caden finds that this stubborn, sassy luscious reporter maybe his undoing. Sydney Blair draws him like no other , he knew since the moment he set eyes on her that she is his mate, but he has had so much loss in his life he is unwilling to invite that type of possible hurt into it now. Sydney seams hell bent on knowing more about a world he would rather not know anything about. But he knows that if she was to discover and report anything it could be detrimental to the magical world. This doesn’t seem to stop him from getting closer than he should to her.
Caden’s distant personality leaves much to be desired. Even as he professes his feelings to her he seams too in control and unfazed by her blatant attempts to seduce him. This only leads her to believe he is out to scoop her story on the magical war that is brewing.
Sydney’s assistant gives her a magical dairy , and tells her it will fulfill her deepest harts desire. Still not convinced that it will work Sydney writes her fantasies of Caden MacTavish in the book, and to her surprise he comes to her and takes her just like she wrote in her book. This only makes her pine for him more, but does he want her like she wants him or was it all the power of the book.
I liked this second installment of the Doomsday Brethren. I thought that Caden was a strong character , he’s had a few looses in his life and this prevents him from giving him self to Sydney. I understand why he is distant, but it is hard to see him want Sydney when she is just there for the taking, if he would only let her in.
Sydney is a very strong character, I like that she does not back down even though Caden gives her every reason to walk away. She is willing to drop her whole life and fight a battle that is not even hers to fight and could very well might cost her, her life.
Again I say that all the side characters are so strong and they all have a side story that makes you long for them to have a book so you can learn more about them. I do not think that Shock is a trader I cant wait till he gets a book I think he is just misunderstood. Of course I always fall for the bad boy so I have a soft spot for him. The story is non stop form start to finish and will keep you wanting more.
**Athenna**
Caden witnessed a tragic event when he was younger that made him shun his magical heritage. He sees no use for it and refuses to embrace his transformation into becoming a wizard. He only returns to England because his brother Lucan has fallen gravely ill after a forceful mate bond brake. Caden has no intention or desire for joining the Doomsday Brethren that fights the evil wizard Mathias. Bram is the leader of the Brethren and Lucan's best friend. He has been taking care of his sick friend and Caden has agreed to help Bram quiet reporter Sydney Blair and her stories of the fighting as a way to repay Bram for helping to take care of his brother. He takes a job as a photographer to work with Sydney to learn the source of her stories and to get her to stop writing her articles. As soon as he learns that Sydney is also in possession of the Doomsday Diary, a diary that grants the wishes of those who write in it, he is also tasked with relieving her of it. Things get complicated when Caden feels that Sydney is his destined mate.
Caden really does not like magic. He wants to hurry and find his brother's mate so she can heal his brother and then leave as soon as it's all done. He is a man of honor so he helps out Bram because of all he has done for his brother. He thinks that Sydney's source is his brother's mate and sets out to find out who exactly is supplying her with all the details. It isn't long after he starts to work with Sydney that he becomes attracted to her and is not happy to realize that she is suppose to be his mate. He doesn't like the magic world and does not want to drag Sydney into it but it becomes more and more difficult not to make her his.
Sydney is an intelligent strong headed woman who wants to bed Caden but is weary about his intentions with her story. He is constantly asking her about her source and she won't budge on giving him any information. When she finds out the truth she actually takes to the knowledge of magic better than Caden. She wants to do all she can to stop Mathias while Caden can't get out of England fast enough. Their biggest obstacle in being together is Caden and him being afraid of what magic and a mate bond could do to him or Sydney. He is a strong, handsome, caring male with good values but all his reasons for not wanting magic or to mate with Sydney were just excuses and I started to tire of them. Sydney was a good fit for him because she was caring to his situation but at the same time she wasn't going to baby him and let him just bury his head in the sand.
The story from Tempt Me With Darkness continues in Seduce Me In Shadow. Mathias has risen from the dead and is creating an army of undead soldiers to fight. He is going after the Privileged (Magickind is segregated into the rich Privileged and the oppressed Deprived) and the Doomsday Brethren is all that stands in between him and mass murder. The Brethren's numbers are very small and with Lucan down, it is even more difficult. Lucan's story is very sad. I've learned his book won't be out until February 2012 and I know it is going to be an emotional one. The second installment in the Doomsday Brethren series is even darker and more addicting than the first. Shayla Black's characters have a way of getting under your skin and make you want to know more.
~Stephanie G
Caden MacTavish has ran from his magical heritage his whole life but when his brother becomes ill from a mate mourning he rushes home. Caden vows he will do anything and everything to help his brother Lucan over come this. When he is assigned to check out a reporter for the local tabloid who knows an awful lot about their magical world and war, it may prove to be more difficult than tracking his brothers mate.
Caden finds that this stubborn, sassy luscious reporter maybe his undoing. Sydney Blair draws him like no other , he knew since the moment he set eyes on her that she is his mate, but he has had so much loss in his life he is unwilling to invite that type of possible hurt into it now. Sydney seams hell bent on knowing more about a world he would rather not know anything about. But he knows that if she was to discover and report anything it could be detrimental to the magical world. This doesn’t seem to stop him from getting closer than he should to her.
Caden’s distant personality leaves much to be desired. Even as he professes his feelings to her he seams too in control and unfazed by her blatant attempts to seduce him. This only leads her to believe he is out to scoop her story on the magical war that is brewing.
Sydney’s assistant gives her a magical dairy , and tells her it will fulfill her deepest harts desire. Still not convinced that it will work Sydney writes her fantasies of Caden MacTavish in the book, and to her surprise he comes to her and takes her just like she wrote in her book. This only makes her pine for him more, but does he want her like she wants him or was it all the power of the book.
I liked this second installment of the Doomsday Brethren. I thought that Caden was a strong character , he’s had a few looses in his life and this prevents him from giving him self to Sydney. I understand why he is distant, but it is hard to see him want Sydney when she is just there for the taking, if he would only let her in.
Sydney is a very strong character, I like that she does not back down even though Caden gives her every reason to walk away. She is willing to drop her whole life and fight a battle that is not even hers to fight and could very well might cost her, her life.
Again I say that all the side characters are so strong and they all have a side story that makes you long for them to have a book so you can learn more about them. I do not think that Shock is a trader I cant wait till he gets a book I think he is just misunderstood. Of course I always fall for the bad boy so I have a soft spot for him. The story is non stop form start to finish and will keep you wanting more.
**Athenna**
October 5, 2011
"Indeed" this was not a good book. The writing was not up to Shayla Black's usually high standard, it was repetitive, the H/H were both damnably annoying and the inner monologue from both ridiculously banal. How in the hell did Caden ever get into the marines? He truly was as useless as tits on a bull, gees I could have kicked this guys arse whilst he was thinking constantly about Westin, Lucan, the crapiness of mate bonding, going back to Dallas and not kissing his little firecracker (urgh). Again if Caden was so well trained as a marine how did Anka get the slip by when his "firecracker" crawled out the ladies window to meet up with her and he flipping well knew she was doing it but just sat there? That really set the ball in motion for straining my intelligence and it just went badly from there. I also had a BIG problem with the editor, Holly, thinking rape was a good story, I'm very open and most things go for me but that just hit a raw nerve it was too flippant. Some of the sex scenes were pretty good but there was such a forced chemistry that it just mucked it up. I liked the first book, I liked Marrok however the women need some work to make them likeable and not appear to be either daft or insipid. The men could do with a small make-over as well to man them up a tad more. On a final note, what is it about erotic/romance novels and women smelling/tasting like peaches? I've never encountered that yet in my travels. I don't wish to dissuade people from the series and mostly from Shayla Black because she is a good, good writer that goes out on a limb with a lot of her books and I like the concept here but for me personally this one was a miss, but hey that's my tastes and not every book is going to be for everyone.
January 16, 2010
Seduce Me in Shadow by Shayla Black
Romance and magic intertwined provide the setting for this romance. Caden Mactavish has struggled all his life to be “normal�. He has done his best to avoid his family’s magical heritage. He is thrust into the conflict between good and evil when his brother’s wife is kidnapped severing their interconnected souls resulting in Lucan’s desperate illness. Caden’s search for his missing sister-in-law is complicated with his fascination with Sydney Blair, a tabloid reporter.
The Doomsday Brethren were introduced in the first book of the series, “Tempt Me With Darkness�. The Brethren and their magical talents stand between humanity and the forces of evil.
Ms. Black portrays luscious women and robust men. Unless this type of magical romance has sprung full blown from the heart throbbing consciousness of the teenage psychic, I have been pretty much blithely ignorant of the genre. The action and characters are solid but the romantic overtones that permeate the book are just not my cup of tea. Keeping in mind my age and gender, I suspect this book will be very popular as well as the prequel and sequel. I can see my teenage niece devouring it and that is to whom I will give it. For myself, I am going to start avoiding books that have covers featuring roughly shaved studs with no shirts, I am beginning to realize that the interior story is most likely not going to be one of my favorites.
Romance and magic intertwined provide the setting for this romance. Caden Mactavish has struggled all his life to be “normal�. He has done his best to avoid his family’s magical heritage. He is thrust into the conflict between good and evil when his brother’s wife is kidnapped severing their interconnected souls resulting in Lucan’s desperate illness. Caden’s search for his missing sister-in-law is complicated with his fascination with Sydney Blair, a tabloid reporter.
The Doomsday Brethren were introduced in the first book of the series, “Tempt Me With Darkness�. The Brethren and their magical talents stand between humanity and the forces of evil.
Ms. Black portrays luscious women and robust men. Unless this type of magical romance has sprung full blown from the heart throbbing consciousness of the teenage psychic, I have been pretty much blithely ignorant of the genre. The action and characters are solid but the romantic overtones that permeate the book are just not my cup of tea. Keeping in mind my age and gender, I suspect this book will be very popular as well as the prequel and sequel. I can see my teenage niece devouring it and that is to whom I will give it. For myself, I am going to start avoiding books that have covers featuring roughly shaved studs with no shirts, I am beginning to realize that the interior story is most likely not going to be one of my favorites.
September 29, 2009
Book 2 in the Doomsday Brethren series gives us Caden's story and I can honestly say without a doubt that If I loved Tempt Me With Darkness, I'm absolutely in lust with Seduce Me With Shadow. The world building in book one was fascinating and flowed seamlessly into book two. I love a story that can so captivate me that I forget that I'm not actually there and Seduce Me In Shadow did that for me in a big way.
Caden is an amazing character. Conflicted feeling about his magical awakening he has been sent to retrieve the stolen Doomsday Diary. Easier said than done when feisty Sydney Blair is involved. Caden is a sexy, protective, tortured alpha male that kept my attention from cover to cover.
We are drawn even deeper into the lives of all the Doomsday Brethren and I must say I've fallen for them all. We get a peek inside several powerful passionate scenes with the warriors that left me breathless. Super hott alpha males that are surprisingly vulnerable at times will keep me coming back every time.
A question I asked over and over before I got my grubby little hands on this book was did she bring us the heat and now I can answer...... Shayla Brought it! : )
Caden is an amazing character. Conflicted feeling about his magical awakening he has been sent to retrieve the stolen Doomsday Diary. Easier said than done when feisty Sydney Blair is involved. Caden is a sexy, protective, tortured alpha male that kept my attention from cover to cover.
We are drawn even deeper into the lives of all the Doomsday Brethren and I must say I've fallen for them all. We get a peek inside several powerful passionate scenes with the warriors that left me breathless. Super hott alpha males that are surprisingly vulnerable at times will keep me coming back every time.
A question I asked over and over before I got my grubby little hands on this book was did she bring us the heat and now I can answer...... Shayla Brought it! : )
June 5, 2012
*REVAMPED JUNE 2012** So, so good!! These wizards are such a great addition to my paranormal addictions!! ****
Wow!!! I loved this book!!!!
Caden has denied his heritage his entire adult life. He's thrown back into the magical world in hopes to save his brother from a terrible spell.
Sydney is a journalist for a tabloid type paper, where Caden has started working undercover.
They quickly get thrown into a world that he's been so desperate to avoid and one that she's always thought existed. Neither of them are prepared for how dangerous it is.
I couldn't put it down....this book had everything.....love tension,
desire, action, treachery....Fantastic!!!
Wow!!! I loved this book!!!!
Caden has denied his heritage his entire adult life. He's thrown back into the magical world in hopes to save his brother from a terrible spell.
Sydney is a journalist for a tabloid type paper, where Caden has started working undercover.
They quickly get thrown into a world that he's been so desperate to avoid and one that she's always thought existed. Neither of them are prepared for how dangerous it is.
I couldn't put it down....this book had everything.....love tension,
desire, action, treachery....Fantastic!!!
October 20, 2024
4.5 Seducing Stars
What happens when a reporter tries to uncover the paranormal world, a world that you want no part of but have to convince her to stop reporting and find out who her source is before things get worse than they already are?
I enjoyed this read quite a bit, from how Caden fought his destiny to how Sydney held true to her convictions. Oh, and the chemistry between the two was AMAZING, scorching hot. I didn't read the series when it was first released, but I can tell you this book and series thus far have been magnificent. I love the main couple in each book, and the secondary characters have me hoping each of them gets their HEAs, Even Shock, which can be one of the good guys or a bad guy. My verdict on him is still out, but I feel he plays both sides for an excellent reason.
𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒚 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 �
**I have voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Readers Copy of this book for my Blog,
You can find me here:
What happens when a reporter tries to uncover the paranormal world, a world that you want no part of but have to convince her to stop reporting and find out who her source is before things get worse than they already are?
I enjoyed this read quite a bit, from how Caden fought his destiny to how Sydney held true to her convictions. Oh, and the chemistry between the two was AMAZING, scorching hot. I didn't read the series when it was first released, but I can tell you this book and series thus far have been magnificent. I love the main couple in each book, and the secondary characters have me hoping each of them gets their HEAs, Even Shock, which can be one of the good guys or a bad guy. My verdict on him is still out, but I feel he plays both sides for an excellent reason.
𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒚 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 �
**I have voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Readers Copy of this book for my Blog, You can find me here:
October 17, 2024
I really enjoyed this book. I felt for Caden as he’s determined to not let magic be a part of his life. Had some tears for him. Can he get the Doomsday diary from Sydney? But he’s fallen hard for Sydney. Will he make her his mate? Will he finally embrace magic? Who can he trust? This book will continue in the next book and I can’t wait to read it. I voluntarily read a copy of the re edited book and I recommend this story.
November 3, 2019
3.5 magical little stars
July 3, 2011
Shayla Black writes a high energy, fast moving, and unapologetic story. The Doomsday Brethren is not as much a romance as it is urban fantasy with romantic elements. This is the second of four books in this series. I read the first one a few years ago and kind of forgot about the series. It happens when books take too long to come out especially when it's a new series. Thanks to ŷ, I came to realize the series was still out there and getting better with each installment.
The Doomsday Brethren are wizards with very long life spans. They can mate or not. If they do, it's a bond that they can make with witches or humans, thus far. They gain energy from sex and transition into their full power at age 30. Each wizard has unique powers. They are divided into to two classes -- the Privileged and not. The 'not' have a name but I didn't note it. The Doomsday Brethren were formed to protect a diary written by Mogan Le Fey and all magickind. Their leader is of the Privileged class and sits on the ruling Council. The whole class system is important but it needs to be fleshed out a little more for the reader. I think this will come in future books. The protagonist is a wizard named Mathias. He is the usual brand of crazy sociopath who wants to rule the world with his undead army called the Anarki. Of course, he hates the Privileged and will use any sadistic method at his disposal to harm them. Based on the two books, there is some connection to Camelot although the timeline is modern day London.
In this book we meet Caden who is the brother of one of the Doomsday Brethren. Caden has lived as a human and does not want to embrace his magic. He got on my nerves. At any rate, the book starts in the middle of a whole bunch of drama including but not limited to the loss of a powerful magical artifact -- the Doomsday Diary written by Morganna. Lucan, Caden's brother, is mourning the loss of his mate and his sanity. The mate has been taken by Mathias who has broken the mate bond causing her to lose all memory of Lucan. She is either dead or wandering lost. To top it all off, a human reporter, Sydney Blair, is busy writing about a magical battle for her tabloid news rag. Magickind could be exposed likely resulting in witch hunts and burning of wizards/witches.
There is a large cast of characters and they all have some side drama going on while trying to sort everything out. What I loved about this book was the fact that Caden and Syndey were not the only characters moving the story forward or providing plot twist. Lucan, Caden's brother, provides a graphic picture of what happens when a mating bond is broken. Bram, the leader, shows that he doesn't know everything and is willing to share the burden of protecting magickind. The other warriors are all questionable as far as loyalty and priorities. Sydney was enjoyable. She was smart and sure of her feelings. She fought for her relationship with Caden despite the fact that I was hoping she would let him go and grab one of the other warriors.
Ms. Black uses many plot devices that are template paranormal. Her gift, in my opinion, is how she throws in the unexpected just when you think you can dismiss her skills. The naughty level is impressive too. If you like edgy urban fantasy with a little steam -- give this series a try.
The Doomsday Brethren are wizards with very long life spans. They can mate or not. If they do, it's a bond that they can make with witches or humans, thus far. They gain energy from sex and transition into their full power at age 30. Each wizard has unique powers. They are divided into to two classes -- the Privileged and not. The 'not' have a name but I didn't note it. The Doomsday Brethren were formed to protect a diary written by Mogan Le Fey and all magickind. Their leader is of the Privileged class and sits on the ruling Council. The whole class system is important but it needs to be fleshed out a little more for the reader. I think this will come in future books. The protagonist is a wizard named Mathias. He is the usual brand of crazy sociopath who wants to rule the world with his undead army called the Anarki. Of course, he hates the Privileged and will use any sadistic method at his disposal to harm them. Based on the two books, there is some connection to Camelot although the timeline is modern day London.
In this book we meet Caden who is the brother of one of the Doomsday Brethren. Caden has lived as a human and does not want to embrace his magic. He got on my nerves. At any rate, the book starts in the middle of a whole bunch of drama including but not limited to the loss of a powerful magical artifact -- the Doomsday Diary written by Morganna. Lucan, Caden's brother, is mourning the loss of his mate and his sanity. The mate has been taken by Mathias who has broken the mate bond causing her to lose all memory of Lucan. She is either dead or wandering lost. To top it all off, a human reporter, Sydney Blair, is busy writing about a magical battle for her tabloid news rag. Magickind could be exposed likely resulting in witch hunts and burning of wizards/witches.
There is a large cast of characters and they all have some side drama going on while trying to sort everything out. What I loved about this book was the fact that Caden and Syndey were not the only characters moving the story forward or providing plot twist. Lucan, Caden's brother, provides a graphic picture of what happens when a mating bond is broken. Bram, the leader, shows that he doesn't know everything and is willing to share the burden of protecting magickind. The other warriors are all questionable as far as loyalty and priorities. Sydney was enjoyable. She was smart and sure of her feelings. She fought for her relationship with Caden despite the fact that I was hoping she would let him go and grab one of the other warriors.
Ms. Black uses many plot devices that are template paranormal. Her gift, in my opinion, is how she throws in the unexpected just when you think you can dismiss her skills. The naughty level is impressive too. If you like edgy urban fantasy with a little steam -- give this series a try.
June 9, 2012
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The Doomsday Brethren have a war on their hands. Picking up right where things were left off with Tempt Me with Darkness, we have one warrior without a mate who is going crazy from the loss of their mate bond, and a whole lot of crazy happening. Matthias, having risen from the dead and gathering an army of undead soldiers, wants to take over the world and only the Doomsday Brethren are standing in his way. The Council is oblivious to his comeback.
So Caden MacTavish is Lucan's brother. Lucan's mate Anka was kidnapped by Matthias and their bond was cut so he is now reduced to basically an animal. Caden, having lived his whole life as a human, now has to deal with the Brethren for his brother. He will do anything to help them so they can all work together to find Anka and bring her back to Lucan.
His first assignment...Squash the supernatural stories being printed by an english sensationalist reporter who seems to have a bit too much inside knowledge of their last battle. Sydney is a journalist with a supernatural source, and she's been printing stories that are threatening to expose them to humans.
I got a bit annoyed at both the hero and heroine at times in this book because he fights against his magic nature, doesn't want anything to do with magic, not even to learn how to use his even if it can help someone, because of his past experiences. Sydney on the other hand can be a bit thick-headed but she came around when it was needed.
The two of them had a lot to deal with: Lucan's missing mate, the Doomsday Diary appearing, Caden coming into his magical powers and finding his mate. They worked through most of it together and I think they worked well as a couple. And ummmm they were very hot. Caden is ex-military and extremely brooding alpha type.
Now for my favorite part of the book...of wait, I actually thought the plot was great as well as the developments in the series story arc and how it evolved in this book... but for my favorite part: Bram and Shock. Yes, I'm a little in love with both of them. Shock because you can't really tell if he's good or bad, I like him most of the time but in the back of my mind I suspect his every move. And that makes him irresistible. And Bram is awesome. I love him, I'm so jealous of whoever ends up being this mate he's looking for.
The Doomsday Brethren have a war on their hands. Picking up right where things were left off with Tempt Me with Darkness, we have one warrior without a mate who is going crazy from the loss of their mate bond, and a whole lot of crazy happening. Matthias, having risen from the dead and gathering an army of undead soldiers, wants to take over the world and only the Doomsday Brethren are standing in his way. The Council is oblivious to his comeback.
So Caden MacTavish is Lucan's brother. Lucan's mate Anka was kidnapped by Matthias and their bond was cut so he is now reduced to basically an animal. Caden, having lived his whole life as a human, now has to deal with the Brethren for his brother. He will do anything to help them so they can all work together to find Anka and bring her back to Lucan.
His first assignment...Squash the supernatural stories being printed by an english sensationalist reporter who seems to have a bit too much inside knowledge of their last battle. Sydney is a journalist with a supernatural source, and she's been printing stories that are threatening to expose them to humans.
I got a bit annoyed at both the hero and heroine at times in this book because he fights against his magic nature, doesn't want anything to do with magic, not even to learn how to use his even if it can help someone, because of his past experiences. Sydney on the other hand can be a bit thick-headed but she came around when it was needed.
The two of them had a lot to deal with: Lucan's missing mate, the Doomsday Diary appearing, Caden coming into his magical powers and finding his mate. They worked through most of it together and I think they worked well as a couple. And ummmm they were very hot. Caden is ex-military and extremely brooding alpha type.
Now for my favorite part of the book...of wait, I actually thought the plot was great as well as the developments in the series story arc and how it evolved in this book... but for my favorite part: Bram and Shock. Yes, I'm a little in love with both of them. Shock because you can't really tell if he's good or bad, I like him most of the time but in the back of my mind I suspect his every move. And that makes him irresistible. And Bram is awesome. I love him, I'm so jealous of whoever ends up being this mate he's looking for.
March 17, 2012
I love the characters in this series. It's nice to read a series about witches and wizards. I love that whole concept and the politics are fascinating.
I didn't love this book though; It was just ok. It felt like there was a lot of repeating of thoughts without any real growth, until the very end. I kept wondering how many times I was going to have to read the same thing over and over.
I also had issues with discrepancies. In the first book and later in this book, we are told that the Anarki are not affected by magic so they have to be fought by hand (or with weapons). Yet in one scene they use their wands and "drop" several at a time. In the same scene, Caden is distracted with wanting to find Anka and he turns to Aquarius... except the book says that he turns to Anka. This is something that you would think editors would catch right away.
I don't really mind the occasional typo and wasn't that bothered by the wrong name. I didn't even let the confusion on the Anarki stop me from liking the book. The Doomsday Brethren are sexy and fun to read about. I'm looking forward to reading the next book because Ice and Sabelle.... yum.
I didn't love this book though; It was just ok. It felt like there was a lot of repeating of thoughts without any real growth, until the very end. I kept wondering how many times I was going to have to read the same thing over and over.
I also had issues with discrepancies. In the first book and later in this book, we are told that the Anarki are not affected by magic so they have to be fought by hand (or with weapons). Yet in one scene they use their wands and "drop" several at a time. In the same scene, Caden is distracted with wanting to find Anka and he turns to Aquarius... except the book says that he turns to Anka. This is something that you would think editors would catch right away.
I don't really mind the occasional typo and wasn't that bothered by the wrong name. I didn't even let the confusion on the Anarki stop me from liking the book. The Doomsday Brethren are sexy and fun to read about. I'm looking forward to reading the next book because Ice and Sabelle.... yum.
September 4, 2010
This is the second book in the Doomsday Brethren series. The main character are Caden and Sydney. First, I have to say the alpha males in this book are crazy protective. I understand why, but some of it seems a bit over the top for me, the are even worse than the Black Dagger Brothers when it comes to their women folk. The plot was pretty good...kept moving forward. I am really starting to hate this Mathias guy even more with each book, he is like "He who shall no be named" times 1000. Its pretty bad, he is the villain of villains. The sensual scenes in this book were pretty steamy, but a tad bit slow to get going as opposed to the first book in this series. I do think someone should have bashed Caden up side the head with something hard to knock some sense into him about his adversion to magic. His friends and family are dying...why wouldn't you use all of your given abilities to do something. Overall, not to bad, I liked the first book in this series better as of right now...we shall see what number three holds.
December 3, 2010
Oh, I love, love, love this series! I have the distinct feeling that it will only get better with each book!
I love the balance that Shayla created in focusing the development of the relationship between Caden and Sydney while at the same time highlighted the war that is taking place in the magickind world. It gave the readers the opportunity to bond with the hero and heroine and feel their sexual chemistry (while basking in the hot love scenes!) and also the other members in the Doomsday Brethren.
Speaking of the Brethren, these group of magic people are just to die for. In just two books, Shayla has managed to make me care for all of the characters, especially Ice and Shock. Both of them are very intriguing and mysterious. And I love Bram, the leader of the group.
I can't wait to read the next book which will feature Ice and Bram's sister, Sabelle. I know it's going to be a hot one from the small hints that I'm getting from this book. The third book is going to be explosive with sexual tension, I"m sure!
I love the balance that Shayla created in focusing the development of the relationship between Caden and Sydney while at the same time highlighted the war that is taking place in the magickind world. It gave the readers the opportunity to bond with the hero and heroine and feel their sexual chemistry (while basking in the hot love scenes!) and also the other members in the Doomsday Brethren.
Speaking of the Brethren, these group of magic people are just to die for. In just two books, Shayla has managed to make me care for all of the characters, especially Ice and Shock. Both of them are very intriguing and mysterious. And I love Bram, the leader of the group.
I can't wait to read the next book which will feature Ice and Bram's sister, Sabelle. I know it's going to be a hot one from the small hints that I'm getting from this book. The third book is going to be explosive with sexual tension, I"m sure!
January 24, 2011
Oh, please. He needs to transition from man to wizard by having sex for 3 days straight. Then add a secret Doomsday society, missing magic book and a nosy tabloid reporter, ho hum, seen it all before only done better. And the writing is drivel:
Page 202, "The blokes all looked at one another..." page 204, "...a big bloke with a goatee...," page 205, "...another big bloke on the sofa." Does she get paid extra for using "bloke?" And it just keeps going.
I get the feeling this author is rather old. Page 14, " 'Bad karma!" Aquarius, her flower-child assistant, scolded. "Mellow!' " This actually had me checking the copyright date to make certain it wasn't originally published over 30 years ago. Continuing on the same page, " 'You may find this concept hard to grasp,' Caden asserted, 'but some men are capable of admiring more about a woman than what's in her knickers.'
Jamie scoffed. 'If he's a nancy boy.' "
Seriously?
Page 202, "The blokes all looked at one another..." page 204, "...a big bloke with a goatee...," page 205, "...another big bloke on the sofa." Does she get paid extra for using "bloke?" And it just keeps going.
I get the feeling this author is rather old. Page 14, " 'Bad karma!" Aquarius, her flower-child assistant, scolded. "Mellow!' " This actually had me checking the copyright date to make certain it wasn't originally published over 30 years ago. Continuing on the same page, " 'You may find this concept hard to grasp,' Caden asserted, 'but some men are capable of admiring more about a woman than what's in her knickers.'
Jamie scoffed. 'If he's a nancy boy.' "
Seriously?
August 7, 2011
I liked this one better than I did the first; it just seemed to suck me in more and totally entrance me into the story and everything that was happening. I really loved Caden though there were times I wanted to shake him and tell him to wake up to himself and realise that he loved Sydney and it was pointless to fight it when it was what he truly wanted. I liked Sydney’s determination and fiery spark, though she was a little reckless at times but she was courageous never the less. I loved the way Caden and Sydney fit together and they had some damn sexy scenes. There were a few parts where I got a little confused with what was happening but I quickly caught back up. I also liked reading about Sabelle and Ice, definitely some explosive, hot steamy-ness to be expected from them in the future. Fast-paced, lots of action, I enjoyed reading this little number.
February 23, 2011
Ugh! This heroine, she just needed to die! The hero, Caden (he wasn't much better), did not kiss her until after page 320. He told her on several occasions they would not be together, and still she kept letting him slide into home plate. I mean really, have Some pride, please. One episode took place over a two day span, no breaks, no oral, just him pounding one out. The only reason that I finished this book was due to the continuation of the series. I am enamored of one of the secondary characters, Shock. Hopefully, his story will be handled better, and his heroine not someone I want killed off after the first 25 pages.
July 11, 2011
I'm still not completely convinced about this series. There's just something about it that bugs me. Like Mathias, the evil wizard. Um, am I the only one getting some Voldemort associations? I mean, he's an evil wizard who wants to control the entire magical world, and he used zombies to do it. If that doesn't scream Voldemort, I don't know what does. And I don't get Mathias' motivations for being evil at all. To me, this feels like an erotic version of Harry Potter with less likable characters and less of a plot. I'm really not certain whether I like it or not... Time will tell I suppose...
August 2, 2011
The character development is stronger in this book; however, I don't like the heroine's character. She is so annoying! I usually like strong minded, independent heroines, but this one is just plain stubborn. The storyline is becoming more interesting, but the whole sex for energy thing is kind of been-there-done-that (not me personally). Anyway, I plan to continue reading the series because I am genuinely curious about what happens next!
July 18, 2011
Caden is yummy! Great book/series!
March 9, 2013
❤❤�
As I mention in my review for book #1, if I hadn't started with book #3 I wouldn't have wanted to continue reading this series. Book #2 is only slightly better than book #1. I enjoyed #3 and #4 more. I don't know why I'm not hypnotized by these books. They have all the components necessary to make it a gigantic, erotic, action-suspense, paranormal slam dunk. There's a complex plot, a cool magical world, lots to neat stuff to think about and focus on, sizzling romance and some wonderful warriors, but I just get a little restless in the middle and it stays till the end. Yet, I'm hankering to read about Lucan and Shock so I'm sticking it out till the end.
~~~~~~~~~~ Summary: ~~~~~~~~~~
Caden MacTavish has returned to the magical world by force and only to save his brother Lucan who two weeks ago lost his mate and became ill. Caden has no interest in fighting Mathias, helping the Doomsday Brethren or protecting magickind. His goal is to find Anka to restore Lucan's mate; and then return to his human existence in Dallas. But Caden's magical transition (his 30th b-day, 8 days away) is fast approaching - no matter how much he doesn't want it. He left magickind twelve years ago after magic killed his youngest brother. He became a marine and lived a normal life. Now magic's stupid mate bond is threatening his oldest brother's life. Caden can't leave the magical world and it's tragedies fast enough. When Bram sends him to moonlight as a photographer for the paranormal tabloid who is running stories about their magical war that are shocking accurate, he can't escape the unwelcome instinct that the red haired firecracker he's working with, Sydney Blair, is his magical mate.
Sydney wants Pulitzers and for her academic parent's to respect her career. She's a genuine and good journalist and even though she works for the tabloid Out of this Realm, and she's been writing an amazing story about magical good vs evil that she hopes it will lead to bigger and better things. Her source, a tragic and brutalized witch has amazing tales to offer and Sydney is finally getting some incredible and potentially true stuff. She doesn't realize that the attention might not be positive until Caden enters her life. Battling her feelings for him and then an evil greater than she imagined, Sydney struggles to convince Caden to accept his destiny and help magickind.
The love story here is better than the one between Marrok and Olivia. This one has the same sort of repetition but it doesn't grate on you like the first book. Sometimes it's even helpful to have Caden remind us why he can't commit to Sydney after something momentous occurs between them. It's not really a lack of communication and insecurity that keeps them apart (though there is a little). It's a desire for two different lives.
I love it when the hero (or heroine) nicknames the object of their affection. Caden calls Sydney a firecracker in his mind several times before he uses it to refer to or address her. Loved it. I didn't like it in book #4 (Felicia was sunshine). I don't remember book #1 (Olivia) having a nickname. And I loved Sabelle's in book #3 (Princess).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Notes on the action and events ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tynan O'Shea comes to the Brethren, demanding answers and with the intention of avenging his betrothed's (Auropha MacKinnet) death. After being put through the paces he joins the Doomsday Brethren...
Again, my favorite parts all involve Shock. He takes so much crap from people. I feel bad for him but I love him a little more each time. I also love that he gives a little back too. I'm hoping his story blows my mind when it's finally written. In this book we learn that not only can Shock hear thoughts but he can alter memories. Interesting. Shock also learns that Anka's, the women his Mate call was Renounced by, has been taken by Mathias and tortured via terriforz (a brutal rape torture). Shock vows to find her. This storyline is my favorite of the series.
Lucan is out of his mind after his mate bond with Anka is broken. He's essentially a feral animal and though he requires energy (most effectively from sex, especially with ones mate) he's been managing to obtain some energy by scaring off his surrogates. Sex surrogates are women (only?) who are brought in to simulate sex (for the mated) who can't be with their mates but still require energy. Unmated men seek sex the old fashioned way and/or perhaps also use surrogates. I'm not sure it mentions that part. Anyway, Sabelle spends most of this book trying to act as surrogate for Lucan by pretending to be Anka. (Oh and she has one HOT scene with Ice too! p. 212) There was one really graphic scene when Caden watches Sabelle try to energize Lucan. Had I not already read Sabelle's story (book #3) and knew what and why she did this, I don't think I would have approved of this aspect of the book. But since I knew why, how and what happens next for Sabelle, it had less of an impact on me though I still flinched.
Anka makes a shocking reappearance and breaks my heart with how much she remembers and how much she's changed. We learn from Sabelle that if Anka survived, she likely won't remember Lucan. Very late in the novel Anka... Trying to perform the... It's such an intense, bittersweet scene. I can't wait for the next book, about Lucan and Anka.
We are introduced to Emma (in name only) and learn that she's a human that Bram pickup in a bar the night before. They spent the night together and became Mates. Emma has disappeared by the next morning and she's stolen the Doomsday Diary too. A few days later the we learn that the diary ended up in Aquarius hands (Sydney's assistant) . Under the guise that it was a sexual fantasy wish granter, Aquarius gifts the diary to Sydney on her 28th birthday. Sydney tests it on Caden which leads to some pretty intense scenes. We also learn that the diary can only be transported by women (magical or not) and it only responds to wishes that are the women's deepest, truest desire.
Meanwhile Bram spends nearly the entire book trying to quell rumors of Mathais' return. He wants to warn magickind but the old fashioned council (1) doesn't believe Mathais has returned (2) doesn't want anyone to panic unnecessarily. People have been attacked and worse already but Bram is told that he can't reveal any of that. Bram is tirelessly trying to warn all Privileged families to be cautious without risking his Council seat, the same seat he hopes will one day aid in uniting the classes. He also needs Emma. He needs energy and wants to find the diary but most importantly he wants his mate. By the end Bram is mostly depleted and when... .
Mathais d'Arc (D'Arc in book #2) has found some sort glass ball from African that transforms living humans into soulless zombie Anarki and he's using it to This of course makes the fight much harder on the Brethren.
Syndey is furious to learn that the magic Council is censoring all information about Mathais. As a journalists she feels people have a right to be informed and she's willing to go against the council. Caden forbids it. Bram explains that doing so will put her in grave danger but there is no talking Sydney out of it. They use a series of mirrors to transcast live to all of magickind and Sydney is the one to break the story. Bram is grateful. Sydney has just put a target on her back. Caden is furious but proud.
Some things left me with questions:
I know from reading Duke's book (#4) that a wizard never reveals his unique power if he an avoid it. He learns his unique power right after his transistion. Sydney learns, after 2 days of marathon transitioning sex, that Caden's power is that he can create a corporeal clone. She thinks Caden has a twin and they've both been boffing her for 2 days straight. Later in the book, after Sydney learns about magic kind, Caden never tells her that his power is meant to be a secret. Lucan learns the truth, and Syndney knows too but as his brother and mate you'd expect they'd be among the few trusted with the info. One of the times Shock appears at Brams Sydney is thinking about Caden's power, in great detail (p. 206). Shock has to hear it (but he doesn't mention it) and no one mentions that Shock can read thoughts but Sydney learns that later too. Maybe this will come up in another book and be important but I thought it odd that it wasn't addressed.
Also, Caden tells Sydney that he can't get her pregnant(p.105). He's untransitioned at the time. Pregnancy isn't really mentioned until later and Sabelle tells us that female mates forget their male mates when the mate bond is broken. It's a survival instinct so that the female will eventually allow another man to touchherm, perhaps resulting in a pregnancy which is more likely in a mated pair but not inconceivable with an unmated pair (p.311). So why couldn't untransitioned Caden impregnate Sydney?
Aquarius is hurt by Zain. Shock carries her to a room and we're told that he looks at Aquaruius with "something like compassion." Why? Because Zain caused this injury? Then Shock brushes a knuckle down Aquarius's arm a turns away. Sydney "wonders what that was all about" and so did I. (p.208) Maybe it's the author's little hint to let everyone know how amazing Shock is. I already know it. If not that I'm not sure what it is but PLEASE, don't mate Shock with Aquarius.
As I mention in my review for book #1, if I hadn't started with book #3 I wouldn't have wanted to continue reading this series. Book #2 is only slightly better than book #1. I enjoyed #3 and #4 more. I don't know why I'm not hypnotized by these books. They have all the components necessary to make it a gigantic, erotic, action-suspense, paranormal slam dunk. There's a complex plot, a cool magical world, lots to neat stuff to think about and focus on, sizzling romance and some wonderful warriors, but I just get a little restless in the middle and it stays till the end. Yet, I'm hankering to read about Lucan and Shock so I'm sticking it out till the end.
~~~~~~~~~~ Summary: ~~~~~~~~~~
Caden MacTavish has returned to the magical world by force and only to save his brother Lucan who two weeks ago lost his mate and became ill. Caden has no interest in fighting Mathias, helping the Doomsday Brethren or protecting magickind. His goal is to find Anka to restore Lucan's mate; and then return to his human existence in Dallas. But Caden's magical transition (his 30th b-day, 8 days away) is fast approaching - no matter how much he doesn't want it. He left magickind twelve years ago after magic killed his youngest brother. He became a marine and lived a normal life. Now magic's stupid mate bond is threatening his oldest brother's life. Caden can't leave the magical world and it's tragedies fast enough. When Bram sends him to moonlight as a photographer for the paranormal tabloid who is running stories about their magical war that are shocking accurate, he can't escape the unwelcome instinct that the red haired firecracker he's working with, Sydney Blair, is his magical mate.
Sydney wants Pulitzers and for her academic parent's to respect her career. She's a genuine and good journalist and even though she works for the tabloid Out of this Realm, and she's been writing an amazing story about magical good vs evil that she hopes it will lead to bigger and better things. Her source, a tragic and brutalized witch has amazing tales to offer and Sydney is finally getting some incredible and potentially true stuff. She doesn't realize that the attention might not be positive until Caden enters her life. Battling her feelings for him and then an evil greater than she imagined, Sydney struggles to convince Caden to accept his destiny and help magickind.
The love story here is better than the one between Marrok and Olivia. This one has the same sort of repetition but it doesn't grate on you like the first book. Sometimes it's even helpful to have Caden remind us why he can't commit to Sydney after something momentous occurs between them. It's not really a lack of communication and insecurity that keeps them apart (though there is a little). It's a desire for two different lives.
I love it when the hero (or heroine) nicknames the object of their affection. Caden calls Sydney a firecracker in his mind several times before he uses it to refer to or address her. Loved it. I didn't like it in book #4 (Felicia was sunshine). I don't remember book #1 (Olivia) having a nickname. And I loved Sabelle's in book #3 (Princess).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Notes on the action and events ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tynan O'Shea comes to the Brethren, demanding answers and with the intention of avenging his betrothed's (Auropha MacKinnet) death. After being put through the paces he joins the Doomsday Brethren...
Again, my favorite parts all involve Shock. He takes so much crap from people. I feel bad for him but I love him a little more each time. I also love that he gives a little back too. I'm hoping his story blows my mind when it's finally written. In this book we learn that not only can Shock hear thoughts but he can alter memories. Interesting. Shock also learns that Anka's, the women his Mate call was Renounced by, has been taken by Mathias and tortured via terriforz (a brutal rape torture). Shock vows to find her. This storyline is my favorite of the series.
Lucan is out of his mind after his mate bond with Anka is broken. He's essentially a feral animal and though he requires energy (most effectively from sex, especially with ones mate) he's been managing to obtain some energy by scaring off his surrogates. Sex surrogates are women (only?) who are brought in to simulate sex (for the mated) who can't be with their mates but still require energy. Unmated men seek sex the old fashioned way and/or perhaps also use surrogates. I'm not sure it mentions that part. Anyway, Sabelle spends most of this book trying to act as surrogate for Lucan by pretending to be Anka. (Oh and she has one HOT scene with Ice too! p. 212) There was one really graphic scene when Caden watches Sabelle try to energize Lucan. Had I not already read Sabelle's story (book #3) and knew what and why she did this, I don't think I would have approved of this aspect of the book. But since I knew why, how and what happens next for Sabelle, it had less of an impact on me though I still flinched.
Anka makes a shocking reappearance and breaks my heart with how much she remembers and how much she's changed. We learn from Sabelle that if Anka survived, she likely won't remember Lucan. Very late in the novel Anka... Trying to perform the... It's such an intense, bittersweet scene. I can't wait for the next book, about Lucan and Anka.
We are introduced to Emma (in name only) and learn that she's a human that Bram pickup in a bar the night before. They spent the night together and became Mates. Emma has disappeared by the next morning and she's stolen the Doomsday Diary too. A few days later the we learn that the diary ended up in Aquarius hands (Sydney's assistant) . Under the guise that it was a sexual fantasy wish granter, Aquarius gifts the diary to Sydney on her 28th birthday. Sydney tests it on Caden which leads to some pretty intense scenes. We also learn that the diary can only be transported by women (magical or not) and it only responds to wishes that are the women's deepest, truest desire.
Meanwhile Bram spends nearly the entire book trying to quell rumors of Mathais' return. He wants to warn magickind but the old fashioned council (1) doesn't believe Mathais has returned (2) doesn't want anyone to panic unnecessarily. People have been attacked and worse already but Bram is told that he can't reveal any of that. Bram is tirelessly trying to warn all Privileged families to be cautious without risking his Council seat, the same seat he hopes will one day aid in uniting the classes. He also needs Emma. He needs energy and wants to find the diary but most importantly he wants his mate. By the end Bram is mostly depleted and when... .
Mathais d'Arc (D'Arc in book #2) has found some sort glass ball from African that transforms living humans into soulless zombie Anarki and he's using it to This of course makes the fight much harder on the Brethren.
Syndey is furious to learn that the magic Council is censoring all information about Mathais. As a journalists she feels people have a right to be informed and she's willing to go against the council. Caden forbids it. Bram explains that doing so will put her in grave danger but there is no talking Sydney out of it. They use a series of mirrors to transcast live to all of magickind and Sydney is the one to break the story. Bram is grateful. Sydney has just put a target on her back. Caden is furious but proud.
Some things left me with questions:
I know from reading Duke's book (#4) that a wizard never reveals his unique power if he an avoid it. He learns his unique power right after his transistion. Sydney learns, after 2 days of marathon transitioning sex, that Caden's power is that he can create a corporeal clone. She thinks Caden has a twin and they've both been boffing her for 2 days straight. Later in the book, after Sydney learns about magic kind, Caden never tells her that his power is meant to be a secret. Lucan learns the truth, and Syndney knows too but as his brother and mate you'd expect they'd be among the few trusted with the info. One of the times Shock appears at Brams Sydney is thinking about Caden's power, in great detail (p. 206). Shock has to hear it (but he doesn't mention it) and no one mentions that Shock can read thoughts but Sydney learns that later too. Maybe this will come up in another book and be important but I thought it odd that it wasn't addressed.
Also, Caden tells Sydney that he can't get her pregnant(p.105). He's untransitioned at the time. Pregnancy isn't really mentioned until later and Sabelle tells us that female mates forget their male mates when the mate bond is broken. It's a survival instinct so that the female will eventually allow another man to touchherm, perhaps resulting in a pregnancy which is more likely in a mated pair but not inconceivable with an unmated pair (p.311). So why couldn't untransitioned Caden impregnate Sydney?
Aquarius is hurt by Zain. Shock carries her to a room and we're told that he looks at Aquaruius with "something like compassion." Why? Because Zain caused this injury? Then Shock brushes a knuckle down Aquarius's arm a turns away. Sydney "wonders what that was all about" and so did I. (p.208) Maybe it's the author's little hint to let everyone know how amazing Shock is. I already know it. If not that I'm not sure what it is but PLEASE, don't mate Shock with Aquarius.
October 20, 2024
ℂ𝕒𝕕𝕖� & 𝕊𝕪𝕕𝕟𝕖𝕪 🥰
💕🅵🅰🆅🅾🆄🆁🅸🆃🅴 🆀🆄🅾🆃🅴🆂 💕
𝑰’𝒗� 𝒄𝒓𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒉𝒊𝒎 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒎𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒌𝒔, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝑰 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍 𝒂𝒔 𝒊𝒇 𝑰’𝒗� 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒉𝒊𝒎 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏 𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒚.
𝑺𝒍𝒆𝒆𝒑, 𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎, 𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒑𝒂𝒕𝒆� 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒔𝒚 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒊𝒎𝒂𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒔𝒐𝒐𝒏 𝒃𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒇𝒂𝒕𝒆.
🅼🆈 🆁🅴🆅🅸🅴🆆:
I NEED FREAKING MORE OF THIS SERIES. I just can't get enough.
Yes, I devoured this one so fast and yet wanted to slow down so many times while reading it because THIS SERIES JUST HAS THAT PERFECT MIX OF PASSION, POWER, MAGICAL BATTLES & ALL THE EMOTIONS to make me feel connected to not only our main characters but also to every one of the warriors fighting the war, both the wizards and the witches.
In this one we get the story of Caden, Lucan's brother and Sydney, the reporter who's interested in all things magic to investigate.
Theirs was such a fun pairing because we have this broody and hot man, Caden who does his very best to resist the spark and sizzle he feels for the 𝗌𝖾𝗑𝗒 reporter and then there's, Sydney who wants her photographer and colleague so much yet is equally suspicious of his intentions regarding her work.
It was so freaking maddening to see Caden not only fight his attraction to Sydney but also his stubbornness to not embrace his magical side and especially not engage, when his instincts direct him to call upon his woman, to make her his mate.
We have all of the gang of the Doomsday Brethren, with Brom Rion leading and all our warriors, Marrok, Ice, Shock (whose loyalties seem dubious at times), Duke; Poor Lucan really made me feel so hurt for what he was going through after what happened and his struggles did break my heart.
But also I absolutely admired Sabelle in this one, for her selflessness and her determination to help her friend.
We have this amazing mystery angle going on with Sydney's secret source providing her with all the magical insider info and Caden playing the detective by trying to find out who her source is.
We have lots of mystery angles going on such as Brom and his mysterious mate who disappeared and the Doomsday Dairy itself as to why it works for some and doesn't for others and so many more.
There are twists upon twists, dangerous battles and so much of intense emotions and scorching 🥵 chemistry that will keep you turning the pages so fast.
I had fun reading this one and absolutely devoured every word.
Ahhh... I'm so eager and excited to get my hands on the next book in this series.
Loved loved this one.✨❤️✨
💕🅵🅰🆅🅾🆄🆁🅸🆃🅴 🆀🆄🅾🆃🅴🆂 💕
𝑰’𝒗� 𝒄𝒓𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒉𝒊𝒎 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒎𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒌𝒔, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝑰 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍 𝒂𝒔 𝒊𝒇 𝑰’𝒗� 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒉𝒊𝒎 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏 𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒚.
𝑺𝒍𝒆𝒆𝒑, 𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎, 𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒑𝒂𝒕𝒆� 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒔𝒚 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒊𝒎𝒂𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒔𝒐𝒐𝒏 𝒃𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒇𝒂𝒕𝒆.
🅼🆈 🆁🅴🆅🅸🅴🆆:
I NEED FREAKING MORE OF THIS SERIES. I just can't get enough.
Yes, I devoured this one so fast and yet wanted to slow down so many times while reading it because THIS SERIES JUST HAS THAT PERFECT MIX OF PASSION, POWER, MAGICAL BATTLES & ALL THE EMOTIONS to make me feel connected to not only our main characters but also to every one of the warriors fighting the war, both the wizards and the witches.
In this one we get the story of Caden, Lucan's brother and Sydney, the reporter who's interested in all things magic to investigate.
Theirs was such a fun pairing because we have this broody and hot man, Caden who does his very best to resist the spark and sizzle he feels for the 𝗌𝖾𝗑𝗒 reporter and then there's, Sydney who wants her photographer and colleague so much yet is equally suspicious of his intentions regarding her work.
It was so freaking maddening to see Caden not only fight his attraction to Sydney but also his stubbornness to not embrace his magical side and especially not engage, when his instincts direct him to call upon his woman, to make her his mate.
We have all of the gang of the Doomsday Brethren, with Brom Rion leading and all our warriors, Marrok, Ice, Shock (whose loyalties seem dubious at times), Duke; Poor Lucan really made me feel so hurt for what he was going through after what happened and his struggles did break my heart.
But also I absolutely admired Sabelle in this one, for her selflessness and her determination to help her friend.
We have this amazing mystery angle going on with Sydney's secret source providing her with all the magical insider info and Caden playing the detective by trying to find out who her source is.
We have lots of mystery angles going on such as Brom and his mysterious mate who disappeared and the Doomsday Dairy itself as to why it works for some and doesn't for others and so many more.
There are twists upon twists, dangerous battles and so much of intense emotions and scorching 🥵 chemistry that will keep you turning the pages so fast.
I had fun reading this one and absolutely devoured every word.
Ahhh... I'm so eager and excited to get my hands on the next book in this series.
Loved loved this one.✨❤️✨
October 21, 2024
If you are a fan of magic, fated mates, and forbidden love, then you are sure to enjoy the newly released spicy paranormal romance novel, Seduce me in Shadow. This is the third book in the Doomsday Brethren series by Shayla Black. This series about a group of witches, wizards, and warriors who joined together to stop an evil wizard who was determined to terrorize magic kind. Each novel continues the overall theme while focusing on the love story of two people. This novel is about Caden McTavish, brother of one of the Doomsday Brethren, and Sydney Blair, a human reporter at a paranormal tabloid. Caden was determined to deny his coming magic and his attraction to Sydney, regrettably it turned out she was his mate� I read this book over a decade ago and loved it then, and the author has revised and modernized it. I loved it then and still do today. While this is a paranormal/fantasy story, that doesn’t mean that the story isn’t brimming with drama and blistering chemistry. This author is truly skilled writer and no matter what she puts her pen to, whether it is historical, political intrigue, suspense, family drama, or why choose romance she inevitably delivers an almost universally appealing novel for readers who enjoy highly spicy books. Her take on a magical community is unique and completely her. I loved Caden and Sydney and their additions to the cast of characters just made the series that much better. If you are a paranormal fan of reluctant, fated mates stories, then you should read Seduce Me In Shadow and the Doomsday Brethren series. I give this book 4.5⭐️ rounded to 5⭐️ on ŷ and retail sites.
I would like to thank Booksprout and Shayla Black for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
I would like to thank Booksprout and Shayla Black for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
December 19, 2016
Book two of the Doomsday Brethren brings together a US Marine who wants nothing to do with the world of magicand a British tabloid reporter hell bent to prove that Magickind exists and to avenge her source. He goes undercover as her photographer to find out who her source is and to stop her from writing any more stories on the Magickind. She is a firecracker, as Caden loves to call her, and she isn't afraid to speak her mind and be blunt about it. They are both attracted to each other and when she is gifted with a magic diary she figures what could it hurt to write down her sexual fantasy about Caden in it. She doesn't truly believe it can grant wishes though she does hope that it might. He is drawn to her from the moment he sets eyes on her (and not because of the diary) but knows he should keep his distance in order to keep her safe and because he suspects that she might be his eternal mate. He doesn't want to embrace anything to do with magic and plans on going back to Texas as soon as he finds his brother's lost mate. Sparks fly, he goes through his transition into becoming a wizard, and she picks up the fight for Magickind that he refuses to fight. Their relationship is explosive and passionate with just enough emotional turmoil tossed in to keep it interesting. The battles are large, the villains aren't always clearly defined, and as one relationship ends a new one begins. I enjoyed it. I'm not sure I buy the plot concept that the wizards derive energy from sex and if they don't get it they could die. That I thought was a bit much but other than that I enjoyed book 2 and will pick up book 3.
October 15, 2024
If I could go to a higher star rating on this book I would!
WOW! This book was amazing. So far it is the best of the three in the series. Right from the start, it is fast moving and full of danger. It gripped me from the start. I got so engrossed in the story and got to the part where they "defeated" the main bad guy, I was sad that it was over - only to find out this was round one and I was only half way thru the story. And it just kept going on, battle after battle it seemed, either with the brethren or Sydney and Caden. Such a good story. Aside from the author's recommendation that you first read the previous 2 books, make sure your reading device is charged up. My kindle lost its power at about 82% read and I had to recharge before continuing. Ugh!
This is story of good vs evil. It is a story of personal baggage/experiences from past years, guiding their actions, however much misguided those actions are. Such a good story. I am now impatiently awaiting the next book in this series. Hard to see how it can top this book, but I have little doubt the next will be just as good.
WOW! This book was amazing. So far it is the best of the three in the series. Right from the start, it is fast moving and full of danger. It gripped me from the start. I got so engrossed in the story and got to the part where they "defeated" the main bad guy, I was sad that it was over - only to find out this was round one and I was only half way thru the story. And it just kept going on, battle after battle it seemed, either with the brethren or Sydney and Caden. Such a good story. Aside from the author's recommendation that you first read the previous 2 books, make sure your reading device is charged up. My kindle lost its power at about 82% read and I had to recharge before continuing. Ugh!
This is story of good vs evil. It is a story of personal baggage/experiences from past years, guiding their actions, however much misguided those actions are. Such a good story. I am now impatiently awaiting the next book in this series. Hard to see how it can top this book, but I have little doubt the next will be just as good.
October 15, 2024
What can I say? I read this series years ago when Ms. Black released them. Now......she has gotten the rights back to this series and is reworking them and adding more words, which means way more depth. Caden was always one of my favorite characters in this series and I'm still saying that as of now, he still is. Sydney is a strong woman who doesn't take guff from anyone but Caden may be her undoing. The story flows so well that if you are reading it, you'd better make sure that you don't have anything to do or anywhere to go because you will get sucked in and lose track of time! Action, steam like crazy and two people who are meant for each other. This series is totally unlike any paranormal series I've read which only proves to me that Ms. Black is a very talented author who can write anything she sets her mind too. Just a reminder, you need to read this series in order or you will be totally lost!
October 28, 2024
It’s official, I am obsessed with the Doomsday Bretheren series! This is the third book in the series, and it just keeps getting better. I read the book years ago and this is the updated, expanded edition. Sydney is a reporter, and she is delving where no reporter should go…Caden is a man who was told he would become a powerful wizard but after an accident and seeing what magic did to his brother, he wants no part of it. However, as his birthday is drawing near, it seems that thirty is the age when he is coming into his powers and the only one he wants is Sydney. Sydney is on a mission to find out what transpired in the tunnels that left people not alive no matter what it takes. The chemistry between these two is powerful and HOT. If you love to read about fated mates, magic and forbidden love, then this is one to add to your shelf to experience this spicy paranormal romance that only Shayla Black can deliver in her own indelible way.
November 3, 2024
Shayla Black takes us back into a story she previously published, adding a new touch and more in depth details.
For decades Caden has tried to live a "normal" life. He wants nothing to do with magickind. But when his brother Lucan is dying, he knows he must return home. He has to find a way to help his brother. While doing so, he is brought into the DDB. A group of wizards determined to save magickind from an evil wizard. While helping his brother, he meets a human woman. There is just something about Sydney that pulls him to her. A wizard knows their mate. But again, he wants nothing more than a normal life. He fights his attraction to her, the innate pull he feels. But when she is put in danger by the evil wizard, Caden knows he must make a choice. Walk away or embrace his magic and help save her.
Shayla Black takes us on a magical journey with wizards and spells. Love and lust. And at the very end, a HEA.
For decades Caden has tried to live a "normal" life. He wants nothing to do with magickind. But when his brother Lucan is dying, he knows he must return home. He has to find a way to help his brother. While doing so, he is brought into the DDB. A group of wizards determined to save magickind from an evil wizard. While helping his brother, he meets a human woman. There is just something about Sydney that pulls him to her. A wizard knows their mate. But again, he wants nothing more than a normal life. He fights his attraction to her, the innate pull he feels. But when she is put in danger by the evil wizard, Caden knows he must make a choice. Walk away or embrace his magic and help save her.
Shayla Black takes us on a magical journey with wizards and spells. Love and lust. And at the very end, a HEA.
November 9, 2024
Caden finds himself drawn back into the magical world he tried to leave behind when evil forces threaten his brother and his mate. He now finds himself investigating an investigate report to find out what she knows and who her source is before it causes more havoc for the Brethren and his brother.
Syndey is determined to find success in her career as an investigative journalist even if it means working for a less than respected publication. She has a source when it comes to the magical world and isn’t shy about using that information in whatever way she feels is necessary and isn’t about to let anything stand in her way even if she is developing feelings for Caden.
Not only are the characters of Caden and Sydney compelling but the secondary characters are unique and add another layer to the story. The storyline is unique, the chemistry intense and the surprises keep you guessing.
Syndey is determined to find success in her career as an investigative journalist even if it means working for a less than respected publication. She has a source when it comes to the magical world and isn’t shy about using that information in whatever way she feels is necessary and isn’t about to let anything stand in her way even if she is developing feelings for Caden.
Not only are the characters of Caden and Sydney compelling but the secondary characters are unique and add another layer to the story. The storyline is unique, the chemistry intense and the surprises keep you guessing.
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